City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Afton, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Afton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,944
Residents
$129,956
Median income
$655,400
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

Afton - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Afton places in the 90th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

90th
percentile, household income
91st
percentile, home value
68th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Afton, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,944 residents in Afton, a small town within Minnesota. Median household income here is $129,956 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.8%. Home values in Afton run a median of $655,400, and the median resident age is 50.3 years. 60.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 53.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 5 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 50% from five years earlier.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Minnesota at 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,709 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Minnesota's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 83.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

2,944 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$129,956 /yr

Poverty 4.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Afton compare to other US cities?

Here's how Afton stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 90% higher than other cities
Home value 91% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Afton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Afton's strongest outlier among Minnesota cities

Among the 774 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Afton ranks #16 - the 98th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Afton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#43 of 775
94th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 785
77th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#16 of 774
98th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#439 of 785
43rd percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#38 of 784
95th percentile in Minnesota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Minnesota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

90thIncome percentile

90th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Afton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$655,400 9th percentile more affordable than 9% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Afton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Afton, MN Afton, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Afton, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Afton, MN median $129,956/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Afton, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Afton, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 60.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,944
Median Income
$129,956
Median Home Value
$655,400
Median Age
50.3
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Labor force participation
53.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
60.1%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,940 residents2,945 residents2,950 residents2,955 residents2,960 residents2,965 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,956 residents 2,960 residents ▲ +0.1%
Afton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 10
2020 10
2021 16
2022 9
2023 7
2024 5

Permit volume decreased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.2%
Carpool
2.9%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
2.1%
Work from Home
22.7%
Other
0.8%

Based on 1,266 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Afton sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
83.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Greenfield
2,897 people
Mountain Iron
2,865 people
Dodge Center
2,864 people
Milaca
3,033 people
Caledonia
2,825 people
Albany
2,800 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Afton's 2,944 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Huguley, AL
2,944 people
Lucedale, MS
2,944 people
Brookville, NY
2,944 people
Lakeland, GA
2,943 people
Wilton, IA
2,943 people
Eddyville, KY
2,945 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Afton's $129,956 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wesley Chapel, NC
$129,962 median income
Farmingville, NY
$129,920 median income
Burtonsville, MD
$130,000 median income
Little Falls, ME
$129,911 median income
Nixon, PA
$129,909 median income
Helotes, TX
$129,884 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Afton, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Afton, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.3% White 91.4% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 2.9% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Afton compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Afton (this city) 2,944 $129,956
Greenfield 2,897 $147,184
Mountain Iron 2,865 $81,607
Dodge Center 2,864 $77,552
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Afton, MN?

What is the population of Afton, MN? +

Afton, MN counts 2,944 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Afton, MN? +

In Afton, the typical household earns $129,956 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Afton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Afton; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Afton, MN? +

Homes in Afton carry a median value of $655,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.